Beat period poverty with a Bloody Big Brunch

In recognition of International Women’s Day, Scots are being invited to get involved in the first-ever Bloody Big Brunch on Saturday, 10 March.

Taking place in The Wee Guy’s café in Glasgow, on 51 Cochrane Street, the Bloody Big Brunch allows people – whether they get periods or not – to come along and ‘buy’ the classic brunch staple of a Bloody Mary with a box of sanitary products.

It’s an unusual drinks bill for what’s an all-too-common problem. All tampons and pads received will be donated to The Trussell Trust in acknowledgement of period poverty; something that one in five women in Scotland have experienced.

Unable to buy sanitary products due to financial difficulties, those affected resort to using old clothes, toilet paper and newspapers as alternatives solutions – or rely on friends and foodbanks for period wear.

The Bloody Big Brunch will tour the rest of the UK, popping up in bars and cafes throughout the year. Those unable to attend the events are being encouraged to host their own Bloody Big Brunch at home.

Lee Beattie, Director of Wire, the creative agency behind the event, said: “Aunt Flo, the blob, on the rag – we all have our nicknames for that time of the month. But it’s time to remove the taboo of talking about periods so we can talk about period poverty.

“Taxed as a non-essential luxury item, the reality is that sanitary products should be a basic essential available to all women. So we’re using an actual luxury - brunching with a Bloody Mary in hand - to shine a light on this massive issue that lots of people – women and men – don’t know much about.

“Nobody should feel shame about menstruation, nor should they have to resort to uncomfortable substitutes or no sanitary products at all. By getting bloody talking over a Bloody Mary, we can start helping those in need – and putting pressure on the government for change.”

Taking place at The Wee Guy’s between 12pm and 4pm, the Bloody Big Brunch welcomes everyone and will also feature DJ sets from Glasgow’s top indie club night, Pretty Ugly and spoken word from award-winning writer Cat Hepburn.

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